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After months of reclining and tummy time, your baby might be ready for a change of scenery. Starting in month 3 or 4 (or whenever he holds his head up well and seems interested and ready), propping your baby up to sit with support will give him an amazing new vantage point on the world around him.

The more practice your little one gets holding himself upright with support in an assisted seated position, the sooner he'll discover the pleasures of independent sitting — including a better vantage point on all his favorite toys (and his favorite people).

When to expect it: The answer varies from baby to baby, but starting in month 3 and usually by the end of month 5, most babies will be able to sit with assistance, either by propping themselves up on their hands, or with a little support from Mom, Dad or a seat.

By the end of month 6, your baby will probably have developed the neck, upper body and back muscles to be able to sit without support. However, for some babies, the ability to sit assisted will come as late as 9 months (especially if baby spends lots of time lying down in his crib or on his mat or being held in an upright position in a carrier). By 7 months he may be able to get into a sitting position himself by pushing up from his stomach, but most babies will need to be pulled up into a sitting position by a grown-up until around month 11.

How to help your baby discover it: By 4 months old, your baby will probably be able to hold his head steady when he's upright — but most babies' heads will still fall backward when their upper bodies are pulled up to a sitting position. Help your baby develop neck and head control by making a game of pulling him up to sit: With baby lying on his back (or perhaps your legs), grasp his hands and gently pull him up to sit — some funny faces and zooming noises will help him enjoy the ride.

As soon as he holds his head up well, you can help encourage your baby to sit by propping him up in a seated position in an infant seat, a stroller or your lap. Sitting up with support in the stroller while you take a neighborhood walk is an especially good way to develop your baby's interest in sitting. As you walk, point out all the new things he can see from his upright position, from dogs and cars to passersby and other babies in strollers.

The more practice your baby gets sitting with assistance, the more likely he is to try sitting up on his own without a pillow or Mom's or Dad's hands to support him. As he's learning to sit, keep him on a blanket or activity mat to cushion any tumbles, and sit close by so that you can catch him if he topples over backward. To steady his wobbly sense of balance, roll a ball and play catch while you're both sitting, or hold his hands and sing a song, gently swaying to the rhythm. Try placing a toy in front of your baby's feet too when he's sitting, and he may end up propping himself up on his hands as he plays with it. You can also place a toy near the top of his feet to get his attention. Then lift the toy up to his eye level: He'll reach for it while sitting up — and may even be able to stay seated on his own while he plays with the toy in his hands.

What not to worry about: If your baby slumps over or slides off to one side even with support, he may not be ready to sit, and you can simply try again later. And babies who are new to sitting up may tire easily — he'll let you know when he's had enough by fussing, complaining or slumping.

If you little one doesn't sit with support by the end of month 5, it's not a cause for concern. Every baby develops differently and at his own pace. Some babies sit as early as 4 months, whereas others pick up this particular skill as late as 9 months. Just continue to offer plenty of opportunities to practice sitting with support, and offer lots of encouragement and distraction while your little one is upright (try putting his infant seat next to a mirror, or taking an extra spin around the block in the stroller), so that he gets to use and develop those upper body muscles.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

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